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What’s Inside: This edition of the Water Wire shares recent announcements and opportunities, upcoming events, newly released publications, STEM spotlight, prize updates, and other hot topics.
Continue to follow the Water Wire and emails from WPTO for the latest news and updates from the office. Reach out to WaterPowerTechnologiesOffice@ee.doe.gov with any inquiries or suggestions.
Estimated read time: 6 minutes
Announcements & Opportunities
TEAMER Announces Second Request for Technical Support
The Testing & Expertise for Marine Energy (TEAMER) Network Director, Pacific Ocean Energy Trust, recently announced its second Request for Technical Support (RFTS2) for testing expertise and access to numerical modeling, lab testing, and tank/flume testing at an expanded facility network. Applicants can now begin initial consultation discussions with their facility or facilities of choice, a requirement before submitting an RFTS2 application. TEAMER will be accepting applications November 9 through December 18, 2020. To learn more about TEAMER and the process for RFTS2, please visit the TEAMER website.
WPTO Announces SBIR Phase 1, Release 2 Topics
This month, DOE announced the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) FY 2021 Phase I, Release 2 topics, which include three WPTO-related areas:
- Co-Development of Marine Energy Technology at Smaller Scales
- Low-Cost, User-Friendly Monitoring Tools for Marine and Hydrokinetic (MHK) Sites
- Electric Systems—Generators and Motors (CABLE)
To provide more details on these topics, two FY 2021 SBIR/STTR Phase I webinars will be offered:
DOE plans to issue the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) on December 14, 2020. Related dates and additional information can be found on the SBIR/STTR FOA website.
Upcoming Events
WPTO Director Alejandro Moreno Keynotes Marine Renewable Energy Conference
Today, WPTO Director Alejandro Moreno will provide a keynote speech, and Powering the Blue Economy™ (PBE) Lead Jenn Garson will participate in a panel as part of UMass Dartmouth’s third annual 2020 Marine Renewable Energy Conference. The two WPTO reps will cover a number of topics, including PBE and the Waves to Water prize. A diverse group of stakeholders will attend the virtual conference and share their experiences and thoughts on the latest developments in ocean energy. This virtual event will feature a series of panels addressing ocean wind, wave, and tidal energy from both a grid-scale and an off-grid, purpose-built perspective.
Join WPTO for a Discussion on Novel Cybersecurity Capabilities for Hydropower
Multiple sessions are planned for the HYDROVISION Exchange virtual event from November 16–19, including a cybersecurity panel organized by WPTO. On November 18, join WPTO’s Mark Christian and cybersecurity experts from the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for a panel discussion focused on the vital need to ensure that U.S. hydropower infrastructure is safeguarded against an increasingly dynamic range of threat actors. The evolution of the industry will be discussed, along with new resources that can be brought to bear on these challenges. The event is free, though registration is required.
Papers & Publications
The Economist: Energy Innovation in the Blue Economy
In partnership with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, The Economist published a new report, which examines the past, present, and future of energy innovation within the blue economy. The report suggests key ingredients and elements of the enabling environment for energy innovation for the blue economy, discussing each of these elements in the context of marine energy. The authors considered the energy needs and growing demands of key ocean economy sectors, examined past energy innovations in the blue economy, and interviewed blue economy, energy innovation, and marine energy experts—including WPTO Director Alejandro Moreno. This report provides valuable insights for marine energy innovators working to develop new, clean solutions to serve the growing energy needs of the blue economy.
STEM Spotlight
Mystic Aquarium Unveils New Renewable Ocean Energy Exhibit in Partnership with DOE
After 2 years of collaboration among WPTO, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and industry partners, Mystic Aquarium unveiled a new exhibit focused on renewable ocean energy, namely marine energy and offshore wind. To celebrate the occasion, Mystic hosted a virtual tour and panel discussion, including WPTO’s Jenn Garson. View the video recording from the event to hear from subject matter experts and virtually explore the new exhibit.
WPTO Celebrates National STEM Day
Did you know that November 8 was National STEM Day? Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, commonly known as STEM, are the essential building blocks to accomplishing WPTO’s mission to advance hydropower and MHK technologies. In honor of this day, we highlighted some recent WPTO-related STEM announcements. To learn more, see the full news article. For information about what DOE at large is doing to support STEM, visit the STEM Rising website.
Prize Updates
Ocean Observing Prize Opens New Competition To Advance Hurricane Monitoring Technology Powered by Marine Energy
Last month, DOE and NOAA announced the opening of the DEVELOP Competition within the Ocean Observing Prize—a multi-stage prize that challenges innovators to integrate marine renewable energy with ocean observation platforms. Now open, the Design Contest will remain open for 120 days, closing February 16, 2021.
UPCOMING SUBMISSION DEADLINES
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Waves to Water Prize – The deadline to compete in the ADAPT Stage is November 30, 2020, 5 p.m. ET.
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Groundbreaking Hydro Prize – The deadline to compete in the Groundbreaking Hydro Prize is January 21, 2021, 5 p.m. ET.
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Ocean Observing Prize – The deadline to compete in the first phase of the DEVELOP Competition, the DESIGN Contest, is February 16, 2021, 5 p.m. ET.
In Case You Missed It
RECAP: Global Forum To Tap Hydropower’s Potential as a Clean, Green Battery
On November 3, the International Hydropower Association (IHA) and DOE launched a global initiative of 11 governments and more than 60 organizations to address the urgent need for clean and reliable energy storage. At the International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower, these organizations and government agencies worked together to develop policy proposals and exchange knowledge on the technical and market reforms necessary to overcome barriers to sustainable pumped storage hydropower projects, known as the “world’s water batteries.” The initiative brought together the governments of the United States, Austria, Brazil, Estonia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Morocco, Norway, and Switzerland, as well as international financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, and leading energy companies such as the Environmental Defense Fund, GE Renewable Energy, Voith, and Hydro Tasmania. Learn more about the event in a Greentech Media recap article.
Verdant Power Successfully Deploys Tidal Power System in NYC
On October 22, Verdant Power successfully installed three, fifth-generation tidal power turbines on a TriFrame™ mounting system at its Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Project site in New York City’s East River. Developed in collaboration with WPTO and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the RITE project is capturing energy from tidal and river currents and providing electricity to New York City residents. Verdant’s systems are lowering the cost of energy due to their scalability and ease of deployment and retrieval, and they can be used by local marine engineering companies around the world. Check out a video of the project on DOE’s YouTube Channel.
Final State of the Science Report Released
WPTO works to help advance marine renewable energy (MRE) technologies, and we recognize the importance of protecting our environment and the species that inhabit it. As we deploy and test MRE devices, it is vital to ensure that we are not disrupting the marine ecosystem and that these devices and marine life can safely coexist. To better understand the impact MRE devices have on the marine environment, 30 marine scientists from around the globe spent the past 4 years reviewing existing data and research, resulting in the 2020 State of the Science Report—the most comprehensive report to date on the topic.
Hydropower and Environmental Organizations Put Forward a Joint Statement on Hydropower
A number of hydropower industry organizations joined forces with American Rivers, the World Wildlife Fund, and other environmental and river organizations and released a joint statement on hydropower, which outlines the parties’ shared interests and future areas of collaboration. After more than 2 years of discussion, facilitated by Stanford University, the parties agreed to work together to address a range of challenges, including licensing and relicensing, dam safety, and valuing hydropower’s grid services. The collaboration represents a shared interest of the parties to advance the renewable energy and storage benefits of hydropower and the environmental and economic benefits of healthy rivers.
Teams Selected for WPTO’s 2021 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition
On October 9, WPTO announced the 17 teams chosen to participate in the 2021 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC): Powering the Blue Economy™. Administered by NREL on behalf of WPTO, the MECC enables multidisciplinary teams of undergraduate and graduate students to obtain real-world experience in exploring innovative marine energy solutions to address power needs across the blue economy. Through this competition, team members will achieve invaluable real-world experience, along with the industry connections to help them pursue future careers in the marine energy sector.
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